The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure located inside the head, at the base of our brains. It regulates every gland in the body that produces hormones.
Often called ‘the master gland’, it takes direct instructions to form our brain about the management of production of all hormones. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is one of the hormones it manages and which without there’s no hair production.
Due to this, there’s a link with the condition that affects the pituitary gland known as hypopituitarism and hair loss. Here is what you should know about it.
What Is Hypopituitarism?
Hypopituitarism is a condition in which the pituitary gland fails to secrete enough of one or several hormones. This prevents the body from functioning properly since the rest of the glands are not producing hormones.
Symptoms of Hypopituitarism
Anaemia, fatigue, loss of weight, decrease in libido, and irregular menstruation are some of them. But the most visible will be hair loss from your scalp and other areas on your body. Due to hypopituitarism not secreting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), renovation of the hair stops.
Causes of Hypopituitarism
The causes that lead to hypopituitarism are currently not known. Experts concede that it is not linked to genetic factors, meaning that you can’t inherit it from your mother or father. Rather it appears to be congenital, your pituitary gland not forming properly during gestation.
Meanwhile, you can also acquire it by:
- A head injury that is so severe that it damages the brain.
- A brain tumour.
- An infection that reaches the brain, encephalitis would be one example.
- A stroke.
- Childbirth- related complications.
- High radiation exposure.
The condition might remain undetected for years. Regular medical check-ups can help track hormonal levels looking for anomalies.
Hypopituitarism Treatment
If determined that it’s indeed caused by a tumour, it would be necessary either to excise it or undergo radiation therapy to get rid of it.
Other than that, hormonal replacement therapy is the only thing that can restore the balance of the hormones in your body up to the natural levels.
Several prescription medications are available that will be able to supply you with the doses of hormones needed. Know that you will need to take them for life if the hypopituitarism effects are severe.
Hypopituitarism and Hair Loss Treatment
Now, once the hormonal levels are back to normal thanks to the hormonal replacement medications, hair growth should resume.
Yet, the process is slow. The topical solution ‘minoxidil’, also known as ‘Rogaine’, is commonly used to stimulate hair grown in the scalp. The results appear six months after but are an improvement nonetheless.
In the case the hair doesn’t grow back due to the effect of androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as baldness, a hair transplant can do the job.
The follicular unit excision (FUE) hair transplant can restore hair loss from hypopituitarism. It also provides natural-looking results that will follow your hair’s natural growth pattern.
Our highly-qualified surgeons are at your service in helping you out with your hair situation, contact us for inquiry.